•Pastor Ephraim
Pastor Paul Ephraim of Winners Chapel International has scolded church members in a video trending online for demanding immediate attention when giving smaller donations, saying they act differently from those who contribute larger sums.
The clip, widely shared on social media, shows him recounting that people offering ₦200,000 sometimes call and ask him to wait in his office to confirm receipt, while those who transfer larger donations, like ₦3 million, do not make the same demands, reports Saturday Independent.
“Just because you want to give N200k, you’re telling me to wait for you in my office,” Pastor Ephraim said.
“But those giving larger sums will just send it and perhaps call later to say they’ve done so. There’s no rush, no insistence.”
He stressed that the spirit of giving should not be defined by the amount but by the generosity and respect with which it is offered.
He urged members to approach all donations with patience and humility, warning against the attitude of demanding immediate attention for smaller contributions.
The video has sparked widespread discussion on social media, reflecting a broader tension in Nigeria over the unchecked influence of some pastors.
Many Nigerian pastors are often viewed as “do no wrong,” and both from the pulpit and online, some have made vituperative or unbefitting statements and actions.
Audiences are frequently advised by others to “leave them for God”, “touch not my annointed or “not to judge,” which has allowed certain ungodly or controversial behaviours to go largely unchallenged.
Critics note that even institutional and legal systems have sometimes been weak in holding religious leaders accountable for such deviance.
Some social media users applauded Pastor Ephraim’s call for humility in giving, while others questioned the public manner of his admonition.
The church has yet to release an official response to the remarks.
